Feb was Fantastic!

You know, it seems like only yesterday when we were welcoming in 2014, now, we are well into it with March kicking off and the year is simply flying past.

Here at the Keep, it has been a big month.  The opening of February was the announcement of our secret project that we had been running for more than 6 months - the Manual of Mastery.  HERE and HERE).  With a few people now owning their own version of the software, it is starting to get people excited at that it can really do!
With that first post, followed by a little more of an explanation of how it worked, we ended up with the most comments we have had on any post!

It was a month when Pack-a-Palooza was back, we started our series on Grub Guardian, and Tabitha's Bazaar stalking started becoming a little bit creepy!   (only kidding of course Tab, we all do it!)

I had a rant at one stage about the joys(!) of being a Fire wizard. and even KingsIsle had some challenges on their hands with pets not casting Fairy!

Absolutely everyone (at high levels) has been waiting patiently - or not so patiently - on the Test Realm being opened again to see more of Khrysalis Part 2, and when it finally arrived, no update was forthcoming, although the updates with the Test Realm were very, very handy!  :)

During February, Tabitha got her first Mega Pet, Valentines Day came and went with some great, although sometimes a little confusing, specials in the Crowns shop and Tabitha also showed a hint of her competitive side, challenging Galen to a 'Buy Off' in the Bazaar on her quest for more Jade Chairs.

The Lost Pages event was back in the Spiral, and there was a little post in there to help people know what to do if their backpacks started filling up with gear they couldn't Sell.  I even ventured back into Wizard City to see if I could inspire some of the young magicians to taking their Wizards on, in the same way I was inspired all that time ago...

Interestingly, and what was very important for us, was the renewed focus in the Wizard101 Weekly.  This newsletter (free!) goes out each week chock full of useful Wizard101 facts etc.

The last big item of note is the introduction of a new Keep member this month. I am looking forward to his contribution and I hope it continues to be worthwhile for you, the reader.

So, that's it for February.  It was a big month!

As ever, feel free to leave some feedback on the kinds of things you would like to know more about, and we'll look to getting some Blogs up for you.

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to March.  It should be a great month!

See you 'round the Spiral!

Morgrim

Wizard101 Weekly latest edition now available!

Hey everyone,

Another week starts and that means it's time to catch up on all the latest from Spiral.  Great news is the Wizard Weekly roundup from the last week is available now!

Top Stories this week:

• Tabitha uses the Manual of Mastery to help with her stats and defeat Estrakir
• The Lost Pages is back!
• More February Goodies
  

 ....... Read all about it here!!

Enjoy and we'll have another one ready for you next week!

Until Next Time,
Tabitha

What did the Manual Say?

Hey everyone!

Last night I had one goal in mind.... to defeat Estrakir. I had tried this tower fight a few times, and always made it to the top - only to be defeated by those cheating bosses on the top level!! I pulled in the big guns to help me (Morgrim!), but I also decided that I would ask the Manual of Mastery to give me some suggestions
based on:

 1. Death Critical 2. Death Damage 3. Power Pips

It is obvious why I chose the first two, the Power Pips? Well I just like having those yellow pips. If I have great stats, but can't run my spells because I don't have the pips.... well really - what is the point?

In the Manual of Mastery I simply added the items I was wearing as owned, equipped those items to my wizard (the image to the left shows you what I am currently equipped with - the whole process took less than 10 minutes.), and then on to the optimizer.
1. Death Critical 2. Death Damage 3. Power Pips

I was very happy that the helm I had crafted in Grizzleheim was top of the list... obviously I am getting better at this! But my Robe and Boots were lacking - time to see how easy it would be to get these recommended items. And I wasn't worried about not getting all of them - the main gear was enough right now.... I can look at the other items some other time.

The Manual of Mastery will display the best recommendation, then you can double click on any of the recommended items and the wizard101/central page will appear. This will give you the details of how to obtain this recommended item. But first up, you absolutely have to visit my second home.... Take The Eclipse Clogs...... First port of call? Yes, you guessed it - the Bazaar. And guess what? There they are.... Yeah!!

Onto the Robe.... now the robe I am wearing is a crafted one from Grizzleheim. I was really pleased with this robe, but with the stats I wanted there is better out there. Again - off to the Bazaar. If not there, then I would double click on the item to display the full page and find out how to get it. Luckily though, in this case, there was the robe in the Bazaar. A quick re-stitch for all items purchased and I am good to go! Too easy!

Spent the next 90 minutes doing the quest with Morgrim. It was pretty simple. In the boss fight just get rid of the rats, then Knuckles and you'll be good. Those cheats are prevalent at the start, but reduce the enemy count and it is all good. The added benefit was the 3% accuracy for Death.... I did not fizzle on one Death Spell. And that really does make a difference. Even Morgrim commented that my hits were harder than usual.

Needless to say the battle was won. And I seriously need to go run some more battles and see how I go. But to be honest - right here and now - I am quite happy with the outcome. Patch gives great all round healing and sets me up with Vengeance. My hit is harder, my critical happens more, my accuracy is improved.

Don't forget if you have questions on anything (including the manual) just leave a comment. I seriously love hearing from you guys.

As for the evening? All in all - a great outcome.

Until Next Time,
Tabitha

Latest Edition Available!

Hey everyone,

The Wizard Weekly roundup from the last week is available now!
This edition includes some news on the Manual of Mastery as well as details of the Tapestry Competitions and give-aways from PaigeMoonshade and StarsoftheSpiral....... Read all about it here!!

Hope you enjoy and don't forget to look out for a new edition next week!

Until Next Time,
Tabitha

Pack-a-Palooza - What Pack to Buy?

Ok, it's Pack-a-Palooza time again!  You've got some Crowns and they are burning a hole in your...um...whatever it is that Wizards carry Gold around in...

You know you want to buy a Pack, but just what pack is right to buy?  Which will give you the BEST value for money?

Hmm, a tough question to be sure, but that just means that we'll have a go at answering it!

Before you can answer this question though, the real question is, what are you looking for?  There are packs for:

• High Energy Gear
• Great Seeds
• Awesome Mounts
• New Spells
• Rare Pets
• Some of the best PvP gear
• Fantastic Wands
• Amazing Healing bonuses
• ...and absolutely heaps of Bobbleheads (and other stuff you really don't want!)

It makes it hard as there is a definite element of luck involved, but let's see if we can untangle this a little and come up with some good, solid choices.

High Energy Gear

If you want High Energy Gear, the Wyvern's Hoard pack is for you.  If you have read my book on Gardening (if not, click on it over there on the top right of this page!) and you'll find that this pack will give you the best 'pack' Energy Gear available, followed closely by the Hoard of the Hydra.

Great Seeds
If you are looking for a cheap way to grab the incredible Evil Magma Pea (or EMP), it is, once again, the Wyvern's Hoard Pack, but the White Tiger Lily is in the Raven's Hoard pack - still, these do not replenish themselves and can be purchased in the bazaar, so it might not be worth buying a pack just to get one.  Couch Potatoes can be found in the Wyvern's Hoard pack and the Hoard of the Hydra pack.  You might have other seeds you are after, but these are the ones that I personally farm for.

Awesome Mounts
OK, I know, how subjective is this one? Well, for me, you'll usually see me flying around on my magnificent Cloud Wyvern, so for me, Wyvern's Hoard pack again (still want a Night Wyvern).  If you want a 3-person mount, the Hoard of the Hydra pack is for you.

New Spells
These can be found in the Keeper's Lore, Knight's Lore, Ninja's Lore and Yuletide packs, but all crafted spells can be obtained from the Loremaster if you are patient enough!

Rare Pets
Yes, you can definitely get some rare pets from Packs, but I still think the best way to get a pet is to hatch, so this doesn't rate that highly for me.

As for the last 3, PvP gear, Wands, and Healing, well, the options are many and varied.  For me, this is where I turn to the Manual of Mastery!  I tell it what I am looking for and it will tell me if I need a pack to satisfy it.  Let's face it, that is one of the reasons we made it in the first place!  Needless to say, for generic critical the Islander pack is handy, and the Nightmare pack has some good all round gear.

So, for me, I like Gardening and Energy, so I'll be buying more Wyvern's Hoard packs.  I need heaps more EMPs and a few more Couch Potatoes.  I still don't have the Greenwarden's Energetic Shroud (stitched of course - that robe needs stitching more than any other, surely!!) and I do want that Night Wyvern.  It is a pack made for me! lol!

Tell me, what is your favourite pack?  And why do you like it?  We love to hear from our readers, so shoot me a note and let us know!

See you 'round the Spiral.

Morgrim

Just what is "The Manual of Mastery" for Wizard101?

Ah...just what IS "The Manual of Mastery"?

You know, that is such a good question - and funnily enough, here at the Keep, we know the answer.  But first, let me ask you some other questions:

• Have you ever encountered a new item and weren't entirely sure if it improved the stats you were after?
• Have you ever wondered what the best possible Healing In / Healing Out could be for your Wizard, out of all the items in the Spiral?
• Have you ever considered what might be the best gear for PvP?
• Have you ever just leveled up and wondered what the best new options for gear are?

If you have answered YES to even one of those questions, you need to read on, there is a fair chance that the Manual of Mastery is for you!  If you want to truly Master the Spiral...you should check it out.

The Manual of Mastery is a Wizard101 Companion unlike any other.  It doesn't matter what level you are, what school you are, the Manual of Mastery can help you.

So, just how does it work?

First, you enter your Wizard - name, school level etc.  This will become the basis for the calculations that are being made.

Next, you have the option of adding those items you have in your inventory.  With nearly 10,000 items included, including the Khrysalis gear, it makes it easy to select your items.  We update the items list regularly, but, if between updates Kings Isle brings out new items and they are not in our database yet, you can always add them manually.

This is the same for your pet, as we all know how important a role your pet can play.

As a bare minimum, adding your pet can be very helpful.

Now you can equip your Wizard.  Add to them the items that you are currently wearing.  This step is also optional, but it will give you your current stats.

Now, whenever you get a new item, you can add it to your backpack and compare it to what you are wearing.  Because all of your stats are displayed on a single page, and there is a direct comparison, you can see the + or - that the new item would give you.

But, do you know what the real value is?  Where the real magic happens?

The Optimizer...

...imagine being able to select a few key criteria and getting the top 3 recommendations on gear?  This is a complex little part of the software, but what it tells you is amazing...I know I am constantly surprised!!

(and if you want to know more ... just click here http://manualofmastery.com)

BUT - more on that in my next post... :D

See you 'round the Spiral!

Morgrim